Vacancy title:
Director of Administration and Business Operations

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Engineering Services, Category: Admin & Office]

Jobs at:
Zembo

Deadline of this Job:
Tuesday, August 5 2025

Duty Station:
Uganda | Kampala | Uganda

Summary
Date Posted: Saturday, July 26 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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JOB DETAILS:

Zembo is hiring a strategic and structured Director of Administration and Business Operations to lead and improve the company’s internal administration and corporate governance, while also playing a pivotal role in inventory management and procurement. This role leads a multidisciplinary team and ensures that the systems, processes, and policies supporting day-to-day operations are fast, compliant, and well-governed. 

This role will provide one-stop governance for internal administration, including documentation systems, procurement oversight, legal and regulatory obligations, and the internal services that keep operations running smoothly. As a business enabler and keeping strong ties with the Finance team, the position is pivotal in enabling Zembo’s scale-up through transparent controls, accountable teams, and well-documented compliance.

Responsibilities

Leadership, Strategy & Systems

• Design and implement a scalable internal administration function that supports cross-functional coordination and rapid service delivery
• Build automated workflows and digital tools for internal documentation, supply requests, and inventory control
• Establish and monitor performance benchmarks for administrative responsiveness, reliability, and quality
• Lead ongoing process improvements to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce turnaround time across admin workflows

Procurement & Inventory Management

• Provide strategic oversight of procurement and inventory teams, ensuring alignment with operational speed, cost control, and policy compliance
• Develop and enforce procurement policies, approval workflows, and vendor governance frameworks
• Design and oversee real-time inventory management systems that enable accurate stock tracking and rapid replenishment
• Lead negotiations and maintain oversight of key supplier contracts and service-level agreements

Corporate Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Represent Zembo in all external compliance and legal matters, including with regulators, insurers, and legal counsel
• Develop and implement internal controls across procurement, admin, and legal functions
• Design governance systems and compliance tracking tools (registers, dashboards, audit logs)
• Ensure compliance with all KYC/AML, ESG, licensing, and covenant obligations in coordination with Investor & Grant Relations
• Lead risk assessments and implement mitigation protocols; ensure audit readiness across functions
• Report regularly to the CFO and executive team on compliance performance, risks, and exceptions
• Act as Company Secretary: maintain statutory registers, prepare board minutes, and ensure legal filings

Contracting

• Design fast-track contracting processes that minimize bureaucracy while managing legal risk
• Oversee the full contract lifecycle: templates, approvals, renewals, and archival systems
• Implement digital contracting tools to enable efficient drafting, tracking, and auditability

Key Details

• Location: Kampala, Uganda
• Travel: 10%
• Start date: ASAP
• Reporting line: CFO 
• Coordinates with: VP of Commercial Operations, VP of Technical Operations, Head of Sales, Head of Credit, Chief of Staff, Director of Finance, Business Transformation Manager, CEO

Requirements

Desired

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Law or related field
• Minimum of 8 years of leadership experience in governance, compliance, procurement, or administrative operations
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and build systems in fast-paced, operationally complex environments
• Strong knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to corporate governance, procurement, and compliance in East Africa
• Demonstrated experience in implementing internal controls, SOPs, and risk mitigation strategies
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills

Preferred

• Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, or LLM) or professional certification in governance, procurement, or compliance
• Prior experience serving as Company Secretary or leading board governance functions
• Familiarity with ESG reporting frameworks and donor/lender covenant management

Why Zembo

At Zembo, we are redefining 2-wheel mobility commerce in Africa with a mission-driven, client-focused and technology-powered approach. Hereʼs why youʼll love working with us: 

• Impactful Mission: Empower thousands of motorcycle businesses by delivering solutions rooted in Ease, Value, Transparency, and Integrity.
• Client-Centric Focus: Put clients at the heart of everything we do, ensuring they succeed with safe, affordable, and high-quality products.
• Culture of Excellence: Work with a team that values craftsmanship, continuous learning, and delivering top-notch results.
• Innovative Environment: Tackle challenges creatively and contribute to solutions that shape the future of mobility.
• Collaborative Team: Join a humble, diverse, and inclusive team where every voice is valued, and success is shared.
• Resilient Leadership: Work with leaders who inspire, empower, and guide teams to achieve bold goals.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 96

Level of Education: bachelor degree

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